Atlus, the company behind the Shin Megami Tensei series and its spin-off series Persona, is well known for re-releasing previous titles, often remade or remastered. This, of course, allows fans to continue playing their favourite Persona titles on any new consoles, which is not necessarily a bad thing. However, it also means that new titles have become increasingly rare. In 2006, Persona 3 released on PlayStation 2 in Japan for the first time, followed shortly after by Persona 3 FES in 2007, featuring changes to the story and a new epilogue. Persona 3 Portable for PlayStation Portable was released in 2009, complete with a brand-new playable protagonist, and in 2023 was ported to other platforms including Nintendo Switch. Then, in 2024, Persona 3 Reload, a remake of the original game, came to PS4 and PS5, PC, and Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S. This year, in October 2025, Persona 3 Reload was finally also ported to Nintendo Switch 2.
Persona games have a habit of taking quite a while before the player gets properly into a gameplay routine. There’s always a lot of learning and tutorials involved, and while the pacing is technically ideal, for players for whom this isn’t their first rodeo, it can feel a bit lengthy and boring.
However, the first impressions of Persona 3 Reload are actually pretty good. Graphically, there is little, if anything, to complain about. The lack of loading times is always appreciated, and overall, everything looks very crisp and feels comparable to the PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X versions. The graphical style, which is similar to Persona 5, works well with the remodeled characters. The soundtrack, sound effects and voice acting are all on point and sound good in both handheld and TV mode.
Compared to the original, this remake comes fresh with a new graphical style more along the lines of Persona 5, as well as new gameplay mechanics to make gameplay and battles more interesting and smooth. However, the first issues are encountered soon enough during some in-game cutscenes in which there is stutter, which is very unexpected. Stutters, while minimal and definitely not game breaking, happen throughout gameplay, noticeably in Tartarus, when background elements are moving or a lot is happening on the screen. This is mildly surprising.
Additionally, it is odd that it seems impossible for this title to run at 60fps on Nintendo Switch 2, considering this console would totally be able to do this, and Reload runs at 60fps on PS5 and Xbox Series X/S. Considering that a game like Persona 5 Royal runs on Switch Lite with few issues, it is strange that Persona 3 Reload seems to struggle on Switch 2. While Reload is technically a newer title with a different engine and more modern graphical features, it feels far less complex than Royal. There are moments when Royal on Switch Lite looks and runs better than Reload on Switch 2. In other words, given Reload’s perceived simplicity, one would naturally expect it to perform more smoothly. This is especially annoying in Tartarus when it comes down to getting the first hit on enemies before entering battle, as the frame rate and occasional stutter make this harder than it should be.
Despite the frame rate and stutter problems, the game is very enjoyable, and it is really handy to be able to play on TV or handheld mode. The story is fascinating and fun. For the uninitiated, the plot follows the unnamed male high school protagonist who transfers to a new school, only to be immediately thrown into a bizarre situation that requires him to join the “Specialised Extracurricular Execution Squad” (SEES), who are fighting mysterious monsters known as Shadows that appear only during the Dark Hour. They do this by utilising their Personas, a physical manifestation of their psyche. What is the mysterious Dark Hour all about? What role plays Tartarus, a huge building only appearing during the Dark Hour? What is the secret ingredient in the mystery takoyaki sold at the strip mall?
Throughout the game, players will have to increase their stats, as well as relationship levels, while simultaneously investigate Tartarus at night and fight Shadows. It is a bit of a mix of a relationship sim and turn-based RPG in the specific and really cool Persona style. Does it ever get boring? Not a chance! New characters, side stories and secrets wait around every corner, battles get harder, and playing tactically is a must.
Of course, there is something to say about the fact that as a complete remake, Persona 3 Reload does not feature the changes of the Persona 3 Portable version, which is definitely very disappointing. It could have offered more choice and replayability opportunity. It should have been possible to code in the choice of the other playable character available in Persona 3 Portable, but we are left with the core game instead.
